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ARCHIVED ESSAYS FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES

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IN GOD WE TRUST
- full content, author unknown

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Samuel Thompson wrote:

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December.

I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his theory of evolution.

Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game. "But it's a Christian prayer," some will argue. Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country founded on Christian principles. And we are in the Bible Belt. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect-somebody chanting Hare Krishna?

If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.

If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.

If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

"But what about the atheists?" is another argument. What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer. Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us just to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying. God, help us. And if that last sentence offends you, well..........just sue me.

The silent majority has been silent too long.. it's time we let that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard, that the vast majority don't care what they want.. it is time the majority rules!

It's time we tell them, you don't have to pray.. you don't have to say the pledge of allegiance, you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right.. but by golly you are no longer going to take our rights away .. we are fighting back.. and we WILL WIN! After all the God you have the right to denounce is on our side!

God bless us one and all, especially those who denounce Him...

God bless America, despite all her faults.. still the greatest nation of all.....

God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God...

May 2003 be the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions.

Keep looking up...... In God WE Trust


 
INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE
- author unknown

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1.  Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

2.  Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

3.  Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

4.  When you say, "I love you", mean it.

5.  When you say, "I'm sorry", look the person in the eye.

6.  Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

7.  Believe in love at first sight.

8.  Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

9.  Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

10.  In disagreements, fight fairly. No name-calling.

11.  Don't judge people by their relatives.

12.  Talk slowly but think quickly.

13.  When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why, do you want to know?"

14.  Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

15.  Say, "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

16.  When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

17.  Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for your actions.

18.  Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

19.  When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

20.  Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

21.  Spend some time alone.

22.  Open your arms to change but don't let go of your values.

23.  Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. ie.. Never pass up a good chance to keep quiet.

24.  Read more books and watch less TV.

25.  Live a good, honorable life.  Then when you get older and think back, you'll get to enjoy it a second time.

26.  Trust in God but lock your car.

27.  A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.

28.  In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

29.  Read between the lines.

30.  Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

31.  Be gentle with the earth.

32.  Pray. There's immeasurable power in it.

33.  Never interrupt when you are being flattered.

34.  Mind your own business.

35.  Don't trust a man/woman who doesn't close his/her eyes when you kiss.

36.  Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

37.  If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.

38.  Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.

39.  Learn the rules then break some.

40.  Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater that your need  for each other.

41.  Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

42.  Remember that your character is your destiny.

43. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

 
An Old Irish Blessing
- author unknown

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May the road rise up
to meet you
may the wind be
always at your back
May the sun shine warm
on your face
And the rain fall soft
upon your fields
And until we meet again,
May God hold you
in the palm of his hand.

 
High Court Hypocrisy
- author unknown

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The hypocrisy of the High Courts anti-prayer obsession becomes apparent when it is compared to the courts approval of many anti-biblical and culturally corrosive school policies. That point was underscored on September 1st when, prior to his schools first home football game of the season, Principal Jody McLoud of Roane County High School in Kingston, Tennessee, read a brief statement over the public address system. Here is what he had to
say:

It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games to say a prayer and play the National Anthem to honor God and Country. Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law.

As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it an alternate lifestyle and if someone is offended, thats okay.

I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity by dispensing condoms and calling it safe sex. If someone is offended, thats okay.

I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a viable means of birth control. If someone is offended, no problem.

I can designate a school day as earth day and involve students in activities to religiously worship and praise the goddess, Mother Earth, and call it ecology.

I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depict people with strong, traditional, Christian convictions as simple minded and ignorant and call it enlightenment.

However, if anyone uses this facility to honor God and ask Him to bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, Federal Case Law is violated.

This appears to be at best, inconsistent and at worst, hypocritical. Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and everyone except God and His Commandments.

Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree.

For me to do otherwise would be, at best, inconsistent and at worst, hypocritical. I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.

For this reason, I shall, "render unto Caesar that which is Caesars," and refrain from praying at this time. However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank God, and ask Him in the name of Jesus to bless this event, please feel free to do so. As far as I know, thats not against the law yet.

Principal McLoud aptly summarized the dilemma that he and other educators face as they strive to cope with the increasingly anti-Christian tropism of our government schools. Asked about the response to his comments, he told The New American that most of those in attendance, including members of both teams, "were appreciative, and  responded with applause." Asked if there were any boos, he recalled, "No. None whatsoever," adding that the "responses that Ive gotten from all over the country  have been overwhelmingly positive." Indeed, of the 300-500 communications he had received, only four or five were negative in tone.

 
Not Be In Vain
- author unknown

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It was a cold winter's day that Sunday. The parking lot to the church was filling up quickly. I noticed as I got out of my car that fellow church members were whispering among themselves as they walked to the church. As I got closer I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside the church. He was almost laying down as if he was asleep.  He had on a long trench coat that was almost in shreds and a hat topped his head, pulled down so you could not see his face. He wore shoes that looked 30 years old, too small for his feet with holes all over them, his toes stuck out. I assumed this man was homeless, and asleep, so I walked on by through the doors of the church. We all gathered for fellowship for a few minutes, and someone brought up the man laying outside. People snickered and gossiped but no one bothered to ask him to come in, including me. A few moments later church began. We all waited for the Preacher to take his place and to give us the Word, when the doors to the church opened.  In came the homeless man walking down the aisle with his head down.  People gasped and whispered and made faces. He made his way down the aisle and up onto the pulpit where he took off his hat and coat. My heart sank. There stood our preacher...he was the "homeless man."  No one said a word. The preacher took his Bible and laid it on the stand. "Folks, I don't think I have to tell you what I am preaching about today."  Then he started singing the words to this song...
   "If I can help somebody as I pass along.
     If I can cheer somebody with a word or song.
     If I can show somebody that he's traveling wrong.
     Then my living shall not be in vain."


 
I WANT TO TELL YOU LIES
(c) Kalvere. All rights reserved
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I want to tell that little boy his Mom will be just fine
I want to tell that dad we got his daughter out in time
I want to tell that wife her husband will be home tonight
I don''t want to tell it like it is, I want to tell them lies

You didn''t put their seat belts on, you feel you killed your kids
I want to say you didn''t ... but in a way, you did
You pound your fists into my chest, you''re hurting so inside
I want to say you''ll be OK, I want to tell you lies

You left chemicals within his reach and now it''s in his eyes
I want to say your son will see, not tell you he''ll be blind
You ask me if he''ll be OK, with pleading in your eyes
I want to say that yes he will, I want to tell you lies

I can see you''re crying as your life goes up in smoke
If you''d maintained that smoke alarm, your children may have woke
Don''t grab my arm and ask me if your family is alive
Don''t make me tell you they''re all dead, I want to tell you lies

I want to say she''ll be OK, you didn''t take her life
I hear you say you love her and you''d never hurt your wife
You thought you didn''t drink too much, you thought that you could drive
I don''t want to say how wrong you were, I want to tell you lies

You only left her for a moment, it happens all the time
How could she have fell from there? You thought she couldn''t climb
I want to say her neck''s not broke, that she will be just fine
I don''t want to say she''s paralyzed, I want to tell you lies

I want to tell this teen his buddies didn''t die in vain
Because he thought that it''d be cool to try to beat that train
I don''t want to tell him this will haunt him all his life
I want to say that he''ll forget, I want to tell him lies

You left the cabinet open and your daughter found the gun
Now you want me to undo the damage that''s been done
You tell me she''s your only child, you say she''s only five
I don''t want to say she wont see six, I want to tell you lies

He fell into the pool when you just went to grab the phone
It was only for a second that you left him there alone
If you let the damn phone ring perhaps your boy would be alive
But I don''t want to tell you that, I want to tell you lies

The fact that you were speeding caused that car to overturn
And we couldn''t get them out of there before the whole thing burned
Did they suffer? Yes, they suffered, as they slowly burned alive
But I don''t want to say those words, I want to tell you lies

But I have to tell it like it is, until my shift is through
And then the real lies begin, when I come home to you,
You ask me how my day was, and I say it was just fine
I hope you understand, sometimes, I have to tell you lies

~ Kal The Rebel ~

Dedicated to all the Police Officers, Firefighters, EMTs, Paramedics, Emergency Flight Crews and all civil servants who deal with the tragedies of life and death. The saddest of all, being those that involve children, and could have been prevented. Wear your seat belts... Keep poisons, flammables, fireworks, etc. out of reach of children...Keep your smoke alarm in operating order, if you don''t have one, get one...never, ever drive if you''ve been drinking ... never leave your toddler unattended...teens, be responsible drivers, obey all traffic lights, posted limits, warnings and signals at RR crossings ... keep your guns locked out of reach, buy a trigger guard.... Protect our children, they are our future... Am I preaching? Am I nagging? I guess I am just telling it like it is.... Or I could just tell you lies.

~ Kalvere
------------------
(c) 1998 Copyrighted to Kalvere. Please do not reproduce without author''s permission. Kalvere is from Minnesota, and would welcome any comments at the following email address: Kal The Rebel @ aol.com

Used with permission. If you see this poem anywhere without the author''s name and copyright information, it is being used without the author''s knowledge or consent.

 
I Am Thankful:
- author unknown

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For the taxes that I pay, because it means that I am employed.

For the mess to clean after a party, because it means that I have been surrounded by friends.
For the clothes that fit a little snug, because it means I have enough to eat.
For my shadow that watches me work, because it means I am in the sunshine.
For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing, because it means that I have a home.
For all the complaining I hear about the government, because it means that we have freedom of speech.
For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means I am capable of walking and that I have been blessed with transportation.
For my heating bill, because it means I am warm.
For the lady behind me in church that sings off key, because it means that I can hear.
For the pile of laundry, because it means I have clothes to wear.
For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because I have been capable of working hard.
For the alarm that goes off early in the morning hours, because it means that I am alive.
And finally ... For too much e-mail, because it means I have friends who are thinking of me.

 
What if God Had Voice Mail?
- author unknown

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We have all learned to live with "voice mail" as a necessary part of modern life.
But have you wondered, what if God decided to install voice mail?"
Imagine praying and hearing this:
"Thank you for calling My Father's House.
Please select one of the following options:
Press 1 for Requests
Press 2 for Thanksgiving
Press 3 for Complaints
Press 4 for All Other Inquiries.
I'm sorry, all of our angels are busy helping other sinners right now.
However, your prayer is important to us and will be answered in the order it was received,
so please stay on the line.
If you would like to speak to:
God, Press 1
For Jesus, Press  2
For the Holy Spirit, Press 3
If you would like to hear King David sing a Psalm while
you are holding please press 4.
To find out if a loved one has been assigned to Heaven,
Press 5, enter his or her Social Security number,
then press the pound key.
(If you get a negative response, try area code 666.)

For reservations at "My Father's House" please enter
J-O-H-N followed by 3-1-6.

For answers to nagging questions about dinosaurs,
the age of the earth and where Noah's Ark is,
please wait until you arrive here.
Our computers show that you have already prayed once today.
Please hang up and try again tomorrow.

This office is closed for the weekend to observe a religious holiday.
Please pray again Monday after 9:30 AM.
If you need emergency assistance when this office is closed,
contact your local pastor."

THANK GOD, HE DOESN'T REALLY HAVE VOICE MAIL,
AND THAT HE LISTENS WHEN WE PRAY!!!!!

 
Y2Day ... 01.01.2000
- Mark D McKinley

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1999 has MOVED aside,
For the year 2000,
Here's a GREETING to ride;

May your DREAMS be realized,
In ALL of their depth,
Don't let one stone, unturned, be left;

We wish you GOOD THINGS, In the year ahead,
And ALWAYS kiss your loved ones,
As you turn in for bed;

We made the change ... In calendars, and in our heads,
The talk was of problems ... THIS was the YEAR,
Of the great Y2K DREAD;

A few, made more money,
By means of WORD spread,
Stockpile your resources ... Said some, as they led;

We rang in a NEW YEAR ... We witnessed the change,
As it HAPPENED at midnight ...
A lack of Y2K PROBLEMS, throughout the night RANG!


 
Moments in Time
- author unknown

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To realize the value of one year:
Ask a student who has failed a
final exam.

To realize the value of one month:
Ask a mother who has given birth
to a premature baby.

To realize the value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly
newspaper.

To realize the value of one hour:
Ask the lovers who are waiting to
meet.

To realize the value of one minute:
Ask a person who has missed the
train, bus or plane.
To realize the value of one second:
Ask a person who has survived an
accident.

To realize the value of one millisecond:
Ask the person who has won a
silver medal in the Olympics.

Time waits for no one.  Treasure
every moment you have.  You will treasure
it even more when you can share
it with someone special.

 
The Piano Lesson
- author unknown

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Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a  mother took the small boy to a Paderewski concert. After they  were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked  down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the  wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored
his  way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE."
 When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin,  the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her son was missing.
 Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the  impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle,   Twinkle Little Star."
 At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance,  quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear,   "Don't quit", Keep playing."   
Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and  began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around  to the other side of the child and he added a running obligatio.
 Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a  frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The  audience was mesmerized.
 That's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own  is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't  exactly graceful flowing music. But with the hand of the Master, our  life's work truly can be beautiful.
 Next time you set out to accomplish  great feats, listen carefully. You can hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit." "Keep playing." Feel
 His loving arms around you. Know that His strong hands are playing   the concerto of your life.  
Remember, God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called. Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of  God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace.

 
SOCIAL SECURITY
- author unknown

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Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years. Our Senators and Congressmen do not pay into Social Security and, of course, they do not collect from it.

Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special plan for themselves. Many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan. In more recent years, no congress person has felt the need to change it. After all, it is a great plan.

For all practical purposes their plan works like this: When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die, except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments.

For example, former Senator Byrd and Congressman White and their wives may expect to draw $7,800,000.00 (that's Seven Million, Eight-Hundred Thousand), with their wives drawing $275,000.00 during the last years of their lives. This is calculated on an average life span for each.

Their cost for this excellent plan is $00.00. Nada. Zilch. This little perk they voted for themselves is free to them. You and I pick up the tab for this plan. The funds for this fine retirement plan come directly from the General Funds--our tax dollars at work!

From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid) into--every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our employer)--we can expect to get an average $1,000 per month after retirement. Or, in other words, we would have to collect our average of $1,000. monthly benefits for 68 years and one (l) month to equal Bradley's benefits!

Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made. And that change would be to jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the Senators and Congressmen. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of us and then watch how fast they would fix it.

NEAT THOUGHTS INDEX OF PAGES
THOUGHTS 1     THOUGHTS 2     THOUGHTS 3    THOUGHTS 4

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